Emirates One&Only Wolgan ValleyCREDIT: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
Woman enjoying morning yoga with valley views at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.
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Recharge in the
Blue Mountains
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley CREDIT: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
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Throw yourself into a natural wonderland of magnificent sandstone escarpments and deep valleys in the vast UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area, just 90 minutes by car from Sydney. Unwind as you explore Katoomba, the largest town in the region, and cruise from one historic village to the next, follow bushwalking trails to breathtaking vistas, indulge in inspiring food and wine experiences and nest in cosy hotels and resorts.
Commune with nature in the mountains
Embrace the subterranean at Jenolan Caves, a 70-minute drive from Katoomba, as you navigate a labyrinth of stalactite-lined limestone chasms carved by underground rivers. Look up in awe in the Lucas Cave at the spectacular limestone formation known as Broken Column and the Cathedral, a 54m-high chamber that is sometimes used for musical concerts.
Lace up your bushwalking boots and recharge with an invigorating hike in rugged bushland — there are great walks throughout the Blue Mountains, from easy strolls leading to remarkable lookouts to longer hikes such as the spectacular Grand Canyon Track, a 6.3km loop past waterfalls and sheer sandstone cliffs starting from Evans Lookout in Blackheath.
Challenge yourself on the three-day Six Foot Track walk along the old coach road between Katoomba and Jenolan Caves — or make things a little easier on your legs by joining a guided tour with Life’s An Adventure, which will transport your backpack so you can focus wholeheartedly on your surrounds. Sign up with Tread Lightly Eco Tours for a guided bushwalk or 4WD tour where you can immerse in local history and Aboriginal culture as you visit some of the oldest rainforests, tallest waterfalls and deepest canyons in the area.
In Katoomba, take a thrilling ride on the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest passenger railway, at Scenic World, or steady yourself as you gaze down at ancient sandstone ravines 270m below you in the glass-bottomed Scenic Skyway cable car. Thrill to cockatoos screeching as they fly beneath you and let the serene sound of the wind in the trees far below wash over you on a Beyond Skyway experience, climbing onto the roof of the cable car as it hangs in the middle of Jamison Valley (safely harnessed, of course).
For a gentler natural high, surround yourself in flowers and bushes at formal and informal gardens across the mountains. During spring, revel in the sight of magnificent private gardens in the villages of Leura and Blackheath blooming with bluebells, azaleas, magnolias, camelias and cherry blossoms, ready for the annual Leura Gardens Festival in October and the Blackheath Rhododendron Festival in November.
Lose yourself in reverie as you wander around the five hectares of beautiful European-style gardens at Everglades House & Gardens, designed by famed Danish-born landscape gardener Paul Sorensen, in Leura. Or take the scenic drive along Bells Line of Road to The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah to be spellbound by majestic cool-climate gardens framed by panoramic views.
Three Sisters, Blue Mountains CREDIT: Filippo Rivetti
Sunrise over the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba.
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Three Sisters, Blue Mountains CREDIT: Filippo Rivetti
Sunrise over the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba.
Beyond Skyway, Katoomba CREDIT: Joe Wigdahl Photography
Couple enjoying the Beyond Skyway experience at Scenic World, Katoomba.
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Beyond Skyway, Katoomba CREDIT: Joe Wigdahl Photography
Couple enjoying the Beyond Skyway experience at Scenic World, Katoomba.
Discover an elevated dining scene
You’ll work up an appetite in the bracing air of the Blue Mountains. In Katoomba, ease into the evening with a cocktail (or an ale by Katoomba Brewing Company) at Champagne Charlie’s Cocktail Bar in the heritage-listed Carrington Hotel, or venture to the Echo Point lookout and enjoy a glass of fine wine as you take in the iconic Three Sisters from BAR NSW.
Linger in Katoomba for a hearty dinner at Avalon Restaurant, housed in the former Savoy picture theatre opposite the Carrington Hotel, or settle in for a memorable meal of modern Australian fare at Darley’s Restaurant at Lilianfels Resort & Spa, facing the escarpment at the far end of Katoomba Street.
At the iconic Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath, around a five-minute drive from Katoomba, soak up spectacular valley views over lunch at Boiler House Restaurant or afternoon high tea at The Wintergarden.
Savour a seasonal menu that’s as creative as the industrial car art at Leura Garage, an award-winning bar and restaurant housed within a former auto-mechanic workshop near Leura’s train station. After lunch in Leura, indulge your sweet tooth by popping in to Josophan’s Fine Chocolates and picking up exquisite handmade chocolates.
Rest and recharge in luxury
Bed down in art deco splendour at the magnificent Carrington Hotel, steps away from the train station in the heart of Katoomba, or head down to the other end of Katoomba Street to immerse in the timeless charm of Echoes Boutique Hotel and its sister property Lilianfels Resort and Spa, a historic mansion surrounded by lush manicured gardens. Keep the kids engrossed with a games arcade, heated pool, cinema and pony rides at Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains while you take in the serene views of the dramatic escarpment in nearby Leura.
Steep in romance and nostalgia while luxuriating in modern-day opulence at the circa-1904 Hydro Majestic in Medlow Bath, from the group behind Lilianfels and Echoes. Step back a few decades into the recent past when you check in to Kyah Boutique Hotel, a reimagined and recently renovated 1970s motel in the village of Blackheath, or venture off the highway to soak up a sense of seclusion in a freestanding luxe studio set in bushland at Chalets at Blackheath.
Treat yourself and contribute to the health of a magnificent bushland valley at the same time when you stay at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley conservation resort, a 70-minute drive from Katoomba. Sink into a heritage-style villa with your own private plunge pool and gaze at the magical escarpment views, revitalise in the resort’s stunning wellness sanctuary and take part in bush regeneration efforts for the ultimate feelgood escape.
Kyah Boutique Hotel & Blaq Restaurant + Bar, Blackheath CREDIT: Steven Woodburn
Kyah Boutique Hotel & Blaq Restaurant + Bar located in Blackeath located in the Blue Mountains of NSW.
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Kyah Boutique Hotel & Blaq Restaurant + Bar, Blackheath CREDIT: Steven Woodburn
Kyah Boutique Hotel & Blaq Restaurant + Bar located in Blackeath located in the Blue Mountains of NSW.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley CREDIT: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
Morning mist passing through Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.
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Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley CREDIT: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
Morning mist passing through Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.
MORE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
MORE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount TomahCREDIT: Destination NSW
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, where 28 hectares of cool-climate gardens are waiting to be explored.
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Blue Mountains
Garden Guide
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah CREDIT: Destination NSW
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Best laid plans
The sublime Everglades House & Gardens sits on 5.2 hectares of land in the village of Leura, around a five-minute drive from the main Blue Mountains town of Katoomba or a 90-minute drive from Sydney. Offering sweeping views across Jamison Valley, the heritage-listed gardens around a lovely Art Deco house were constructed by Danish-born landscape gardener Paul Sorensen in the 1930s. Sorensen took his inspiration from formal European gardens while remaining sensitive to the bushland setting, working with natural slopes and retaining native species such as banksias and eucalypts.
Highlights include the Cherry Terrace, with its line of weeping Japanese cherry trees, a cascading waterfall leading to the Grotto Pool and the Lookout, which provides views of Gordon Falls. Rare trees, shrub borders, woodlands and fountains add to the visual drama. Walk along winding paths lined with roses down to the terraced garden, pause at the tranquil reflection pool and choose a spot to sit down and inhale the invigorating mountain air. Everglades is open 10am–4pm from Thursday to Monday.
Bright and beautiful
One of the main attractions in Blackheath, a 15-minute drive from Katoomba along the Great Western Highway, Campbell Rhododendron Gardens was envisioned back in April 1969 by the Blue Mountains Nurserymen’s Association. Work commenced a year later, and the site was eventually named after local couple Olive and Norm Campbell — Norm was responsible for the original planning and design of the gardens, while Olive worked behind the scenes.
The gardens cover 18.3 hectares and boast swathes of bright flowering plants planted amid native eucalypts, deciduous trees, conifers, fern glades and verdant bushland. Designed to be beautiful all year round, this haven is at its most spectacular between early October and late November, when the rhododendrons and azaleas burst into bloom. A series of walking tracks lead to the valley floor and lake, so factor in some extra time to soak up the beauty by packing a picnic basket and rug.
Everglades Historic House and Gardens, Leura CREDIT: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to the scenic Everglades Historic House and Gardens, Leura in the Blue Mountains.
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Everglades Historic House and Gardens, Leura CREDIT: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to the scenic Everglades Historic House and Gardens, Leura in the Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah CREDIT: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a visit to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah, Blue Mountains.
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Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah CREDIT: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a visit to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah, Blue Mountains.
Walking in wonderland
Sitting at 1,000 metres above sea level in Mount Tomah, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden serves as a vast viewing platform for the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and boasts stunning panoramic views. Focusing on the conservation of cool-climate plants, this magical garden offers 28 hectares to be explored at your leisure. Wander through various woodlands, learn about ancient Wollemi pines, treat yourself to some forest therapy and marvel at the diverse mix of flowering plants.
The garden is also a natural habitat for wildlife — keep an eye out for brush-tailed and ring-tailed possums, sugar gliders, reptiles and over 150 species of native birds. You can also take guided walking tours, enjoy an art exhibition and purchase plants.
Grand designs
Located 14km east of the township of Bell, the Blue Mountains villages of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine are close neighbours, and both are ringed by rainforests and filled with historic houses and beautiful gardens. One of the finest is Windyridge Garden, which dates back to 1877 and was given a grand makeover by Rodger and Wai Davidson, who took the property over in 1995.
The Davidsons planted thousands of flowering plants and added a lily pond, waterfall, formal parterre garden, bluebell wood, rainforest and magnolia garden, all interconnected by cleverly designed walkways and enhanced by ceramics and bronze statues. Plantings include Japanese maples, camellias, azaleas and hydrangeas, some of which can be purchased at the nursery.
Autumn, Mount Wilson CREDIT: Destination NSW
Fiery autumn leaves on trees lining a quiet street in Mount Wilson.
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Autumn, Mount Wilson CREDIT: Destination NSW
Fiery autumn leaves on trees lining a quiet street in Mount Wilson.
Three Sisters, Blue Mountains CREDIT: Filippo Rivetti
Sunrise over the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba.
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Three Sisters, Blue Mountains CREDIT: Filippo Rivetti
Sunrise over the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba.